Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Job Ch.18 / 42 Ch.s
JOB:18
* Bildad reproves Job. (1-4) Ruin attends the wicked. (5-10) The
ruin of the wicked. (11-21)
#1-4 Bildad had before given Job good advice and encouragement;
here he used nothing but rebukes, and declared his ruin. And he
concluded that Job shut out the providence of God from the
management of human affairs, because he would not admit himself
to be wicked.
#5-10 Bildad describes the miserable condition of a wicked man;
in which there is much certain truth, if we consider that a
sinful condition is a sad condition, and that sin will be men's
ruin, if they do not repent. Though Bildad thought the
application of it to Job was easy, yet it was not safe nor just.
It is common for angry disputants to rank their opponents among
God's enemies, and to draw wrong conclusions from important
truths. The destruction of the wicked is foretold. That
destruction is represented under the similitude of a beast or
bird caught in a snare, or a malefactor taken into custody.
Satan, as he was a murderer, so he was a robber, from the
beginning. He, the tempter, lays snares for sinners wherever
they go. If he makes them sinful like himself, he will make them
miserable like himself. Satan hunts for the precious life. In
the transgression of an evil man there is a snare for himself,
and God is preparing for his destruction. See here how the
sinner runs himself into the snare.
#11-21 Bildad describes the destruction wicked people are kept
for, in the other world, and which in some degree, often seizes
them in this world. The way of sin is the way of fear, and leads
to everlasting confusion, of which the present terrors of an
impure conscience are earnests, as in Cain and Judas. Miserable
indeed is a wicked man's death, how secure soever his life was.
See him dying; all that he trusts to for his support shall be
taken from him. How happy are the saints, and how indebted to
the lord Jesus, by whom death is so far done away and changed,
that this king of terrors is become a friend and a servant! See
the wicked man's family sunk and cut off. His children shall
perish, either with him or after him. Those who consult the true
honour of their family, and its welfare, will be afraid of
withering all by sin. The judgments of God follow the wicked man
after death in this world, as a proof of the misery his soul is
in after death, and as an earnest of that everlasting shame and
contempt to which he shall rise in the great day. The memory of
the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot, #Pr
10:7|. It would be well if this report of wicked men would cause
any to flee from the wrath to come, from which their power,
policy, and riches cannot deliver them. But Jesus ever liveth to
deliver all who trust in him. Bear up then, suffering believers.
Ye shall for a little time have sorrow, but your Beloved, your
Saviour, will see you again; your hearts shall rejoice, and your
joy no man taketh away.